Consumer price index rises to 5.1 pct

CANBERRA, AAP – CHANGES TO CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IN MARCH QUARTER:

Quarterly change (followed by annual change in brackets)

* Consumer Price Index – up 2.1 per cent in quarter (up 5.1 per cent annually)

* Food and non-alcoholic beverages – up 2.8 per cent (up 4.3 per cent)

* Alcohol and tobacco – up 1.1 per cent (up 1.8 per cent)

* Clothing and footwear – down 0.6 per cent (down 1.5 per cent)

* Housing – up 2.7 per cent (up 6.7 per cent)

* Furnishings, household equipment and services – up 1.1 per cent (up 4.9 per cent)

* Health – up 2.3 per cent (up 3.5 per cent)

* Transport, including fuel – up 4.2 per cent (up 13.7 per cent)

* Communication – up 0.3 per cent (down 0.8 per cent)

* Recreation and culture – up 0.6 per cent (up 3.0 per cent)

* Education – up 4.5 per cent (up 4.7 per cent)

* Insurance and financial services – up 0.5 per cent (up 2.7 per cent)

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)